a day ago
How the Autism in Racing event in Chepstow played out
Kington retired last year, but was lured back into the saddle for a charity race as Chepstow staged its Autism in Racing raceday on Thursday.
Cathy Gannon, Mattie Batchelor, Stephen Hunter and Gordon 'Flash' Power also took part, although it was Kington, who rode for around 20 years, who was smiling.
He was aboard Baikal, who is trained locally by Grace Harris, and the pair enjoyed a prominent position before holding on gamely.
The event was one of around 75 Autism in Racing has planned on and off course for 2025 and its founder Bobby Beevers said: 'We would like to thank Chepstow for staging this day. It's a big funding day and we also thank DragonBet for their very kind sponsorship of the race.'
Harris was out of luck with her runner in one of the card's regulation races as Too Much Trevor could finish only third in the mile handicap won by Rod Millman's Arjad.
Despite being six lengths behind that rival, Too Much Trevor still ran respectably, although he has yet to win a race in 23 starts.
Monmouthshire trainers Christopher Mason and Thomas Faulkner also had to make do with placed finishes on the bill with Gilt Edge coming second for the former in the 7f handicap.
The Faulkner-trained Mighty Gurkha, meanwhile, was third in handicap for apprentice riders.
Joint-trainers Richard Newland and Jamie Insole took the feature through Cloudbuster, who was ridden by Hollie Doyle.
A trip to Bath paid off for Ron Harris, another of the region's trainers who has struck gold with winning machine Moe's Legacy in the last few weeks.
Her winning run started at Bath on July 16 and she then won at Salisbury a week later before another successful strike at Bath. A defeat at Newbury at the start of August was next, but the four-year-old kept on well under Trevor Whelan to regain the winning thread.
She is the only horse to have won for Harris this season and could be worth following when she next appears.
Hopefully the weather plays ball for Chepstow's family fun day meeting next week, which takes place on bank holiday Monday.
Seven races are programmed with the first at 1.53pm and the last at 5.23pm, while the gates open at 11.50am.
The non-stop family entertainment includes meet-and-greet sessions with storybook characters The Gruffalo and Zog, a live set from MC Grammar, activities for children and funfair rides. There will also be football freestyler on track and a rugby skills zone, plus areas for picnics, while there is the added bonus of two pony races (12.35pm and 12.55pm) before the thoroughbred action starts.
Ffos Las officials will be keen for good weather too for their ladies' day on Friday, when the gates open at 12.10pm for a 2.10pm start.
